The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday opposed Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea seeking to turn approver in a ₹200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. The case is being heard by the Patiala House Court in Delhi, where the agency argued that the actor did not cooperate fully during the investigation and failed to make complete and truthful disclosures.
According to the ED, Jacqueline’s statements recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) were “not satisfactory” and lacked full disclosure regarding the alleged proceeds of crime. The agency told the court that her conduct during the probe showed a consistent failure to provide clear and complete information, which it said was essential for establishing the money trail in the case.
The ED further alleged that the actor remained in contact with Chandrashekhar even after becoming aware of his alleged criminal background. It also claimed that luxury gifts and valuables worth around ₹7 crore were arranged for her using proceeds generated through illegal activities. These allegations form part of the broader investigation into an alleged ₹200 crore fraud involving multiple individuals.
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The money laundering case originates from accusations that Chandrashekhar cheated the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of nearly ₹200 crore by posing as a high-profile government official. The ED has already filed multiple charge sheets in the matter and named Jacqueline as an accused in a supplementary prosecution complaint. Another actor, Nora Fatehi, has been questioned as a witness in the case.
Jacqueline has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that she was unaware of Chandrashekhar’s alleged criminal activities and the origin of the gifts she received. Her legal team has argued that she cannot be prosecuted under PMLA provisions as she had no knowledge that the items were linked to proceeds of crime. However, the ED has maintained that ignorance of the source of funds does not absolve responsibility under the anti-money laundering law.
After hearing both sides, the Patiala House Court granted time to Jacqueline’s counsel to file a rejoinder to the ED’s submissions and listed the matter for further hearing on May 12. The court is also considering earlier legal challenges in the case, including a plea rejected by the Supreme Court, which had declined to quash proceedings against her while upholding the ED’s investigative powers under the PMLA framework.
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